Food dispenser



R. SHOFER FOOD DISPENSER July 28, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7,1961 8% ATTORNEY July 28, 1964 R. SHOFER 3,142,267

FOOD DISPENSER Filed April 7, 1961 8 sheets sheet 3 9 F'Aff I, I [I],III/1111,22 I I, I!

C) I i I L612? 75 784' Z- yga INVENT OR 64 F/ 7 ML LL MvM ATTORNEYS July28, 1964 R. SHOFER 3,142,267

FOOD DISPENSER Filed April 7, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY R. sHoFERFOOD DISPENSER July 28, 1964 Filed April 7, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR Ea Men fiarze ATTORNEY;

July 28, 1,964 I R. SHOFER 3,142,267

' FOOD DISPENSER Filed April 7, 1961 v a Sheets-Sheet s H v A76) r //4 IH A? flame fif/OFEZ /2L GALE-N July 28, 1964 R. SHOFER 3,142,267

FOOD DISPENSER ATTORNEY) July' 28, 1964 Filed April 7. 1961 R. SHOFERFOOD' DISPENSER 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 4M ATTORN J United States Patent3,142,267 FGGD DISPENSER Richard Shofer, 3913 Seven Mile Lane,Baltimore, Md. Filed Apr. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 127,756 8 (Claims. (Cl.107-1) This invention relates to a coin activated food vending deviceand particularly relates to a vending device which automaticallyprepares and dispenses a commodity, known in the trade as a Sno-Ball, inresponse to a coin activated signal. A Sno-Ball is comprised of shavedice in a cup or other suitable container having a thick syrup of adesired flavor dispersed therethrough. Heretofore, such a commodity wasmanually prepared by a vendor having an ice shaving mechanism andindividual containers of syrup. The ice was placed in the cup and thesyrup poured uniformly over the shavings so as to disperse itself andthereby flavoring and coloring. The making of such a commodity did notlend itself to automatic controls because a Sno-Ball of good quality canonly be prepared from freshly shaved ice and the commodity must, by itsvery nature, be inexpensive.

Therefore, a primary objective of this invention is to provide a ruggedautomatic food vending machine, relatively inexpensive to manufacture,and capable of preparinlg a Sno-Ball of high quality upon an activatingsigna Another important objective of this invention is to provide meansto shave and dispense a single serving of ice shavings upon theinsertion of proper coins.

A further objective of this invention is to provide means whereby thesyrup, for use in such a machine, is maintained in an agitated conditionby a series of time operated controls. The agitating means are providedwith means to insure that air bubbles will not flow through thedispensing conduits.

A further objective is the elimination of prepressurized gas containersby the use of an air compressor for automatically maintaining thedesired pressure in the containers of this machine.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a meanswhereby the syrup, which is dispensed over the ice, is distributed overthe entire surface of a particular serving, but is so constructed andoperated as not to interfere with the container dispensing apparatus.

A still further objective of the invention is to provide storage in thedescribed vending machine wherein the syrup storage containers may bereadily removed from the confines of the machine for servicing orrefilling. This objective is accomplished in part by a support board forcarrying all conduits, electrical and fluid, to the pressurizedcontainers.

Another important objective of the invention is to provide a vendingmachine, of the type described, with the ability to accept ice storagebins of various sizes for use in different environments of use,especially where low room ceilings are involved.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the cabinet of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front interior elevational view with the door of the cabinetopen;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the interior of the cabinet;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the ice storage hopper;

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 2;

3,142,267 Patented July 28, 1964 FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view alongthe lines 7--7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a partial diagrammatic view of the syrup dispensing system;

FIG. 8A is a bottom view of the nozzle thereof;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the lines 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9A is a sectional view along the line 9a9a of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a partial diagrammatic view showing the syrup flow assembly;

FIG. 11 is a partial electrical diagrammatic view of the cam operatingparts; and

FIGS. 12 through 14 disclose the electric circuitry for use with theinvention.

Description Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicatelike elements, the numeral 1 indicates the cabinet for housing thevending machine of this invention. The cabinet is generally rectangularand consists of a pair of side walls 2 and 2a, a back wall 3, a top 4,and a bottom 5. The front of the cabinet is sealed by a door 6 which ishingedly connected to side wall 2 by a plurality of hinges 7. The top 4has a rectangular opening 4a therein to slidably receive an ice makerunit 8. The cabinet is normally situated in a permanent location whereina permanent water supply may be connected to the ice making unit by aflexible conduit 9 having its inlet 9 mounted in back wall 3 (FIG. 6).

The ice maker is one of conventional designand preferably, but notnecessarily, provides ice to the machine in cube form. The cabinet isdivided basically into upper and lower compartments A and B by framingstructure C. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the icemaking unit is vertically adjustable within compartment A so that themachine may be adapted for use in basements or other environments wherelow ceilings are often encountered.

Spaced below the ice making unit is an ice shaving mechanism 13. Theshaving unit may be of conventional design and preferably has theoperating characteristics of the machine patented by R. R. Smith in 1938(Re. 20,952). The prior art shavers, such as Smith discloses, are notprovided with a hopper suitable for use in the invention disclosedherein. The prior art hoppers do not have a suitable capacity or designfor operational effectiveness within the combination of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, as cubes are provided from ice maker 8, theyare fed to hopper 12 through an opening 10. As seen best in FIG. 5, thehopper near its bottom becomes generally conical having one side wallthereof curved and slanted at 12a. Normally, ice may be made at a fasterrate than it is being called for in this machine and, therefore, thehopper 12 with its enlarged body section will build a sizable supply ofcubes for those periods of the day when the machine is most active. Aconventional storage bin thermostatic electric switch is provided sothat the ice making machine will be deactivated when hopper 12 hasreached its capacity. When the ice in the storage hopper drops below thedesired level, the ice maker will be activated and replenish the supply.

The invention gives the customer a choice of syrup flavors for use withthe ice dispensed from shaver 13. As will be more fully described below,the machine also provides a system for controlling the flow, amount andtiming of the syrup to be dispensed. Also sequentially controlled arethe cup and spoon supplies, and the means by which the syrup isuniformly dispensed over the ice shavings when in their containing cups.

The coin control mechanism is of a conventional design and is designatedby the numeral 22 in the instant embodiment. A plurality of buttons2311-2311 are provided so that a purchaser may select the flavorSno-Ball desired.

It is believed that the invention will be best understood by a generalsequential description of the functional events as they occur, followedby a description of the structure necessary for each event.Subsequently, a more detailed description of the electrical circuitryand syrup flow, and the casual effects of each event, will be explainedto connect the rather independently described sub-systems.

Upon insertion of a coin in slot 203, a conventional cup dispenser 24 isactivated and dispenses from one of a series of tubes 26 thereon asingle cup via chute 31 to a cup receiving station 33. Station 33 is theposition at which the cup will receive its food ingredients. The cuphousing and dispensing mechanism is operated by a timer motor 25 (shownonly in FIG. 12) via pinions. Cup dispensers of this type are well knownin the art, and the importance thereof, to this invention, resides onlyin the timing, sequence of operation, and its placement.

During the interval the cup is dropping from its housing to station 33,a pair of hopper vibrators 29 and 30 (see FIG. 5) are activated. Thevibrators insure proper placement of the ice within the hopper to insurethe proper working of the shaving mechanism 13, so as to insure equalservings. The vibrators diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 12 and 5 areelectrically operated and produce vibrations of sufficient amplitude todisturb the cubes of ice Within the hopper. Since the machine will, attimes, have periods of inactivity, such vibrations insure proper feedingto the shaving assembly. After a predetermined length of time, thevibrators 29 and 30 are deactivated and the motor 14 of ice shaver 13 isactivated. A belt 15 is operatively connected to shaft 17 which rotatesthe shaver blades 16 of the shaving assembly. As the blades rotate, theshaved ice is dispensed through a slot 18 and is directed by shield 19into a chute 32 delivering same into a cup 34 residing at station 33upon a surface 87 thereof (FIG. 3).

The amount of icedispensed is determined by the length of time theshaver 13 is operated. Immediately after the desired amount of ice isdispensed, the motor 14 is deactivated and a syrup dispensing assembly37 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) is activated.

The syrup dispensed by mechanism 37 comes from a plurality of syruptanks 5911-5911. As will be later described, a valve and electricalsystem for selecting the proper syrup is provided. The mechanism 37provides a means to route an arm 39, and a dispensing head or nozzle 40attached thereto in response to a movement given by solenoid 35. Themechanism 37 is basically a two position device which is normally in afirst retracted position and upon each sequence of operation moves itsnozzle 40 in a circular path over station 33 which in effect is itssecond position. As arm 39 moves forward over cup 34, a selected syrupvalve 7811 opens and the selected syrup is dispensed from nozzle 40. Amotor 41, positioning dispensing arm 39, is energized causing the nozzle40 to follow a circular path 56 above the cup. Upon completing itscircular path, the selected valve is closed, syrup dispensing isstopped, and the arm 39 is retracted to its first position. The nozzle40 is comprised of a plurality of sections of metal tubes 4011 connectedto plastic conduits leading from the syrup containers.

At the end of the syrup dispensing interval, a spoon is dispensed fromcabinet 58. This spoon dispensing mechanism is a solenoid operateddevice and effectively signals the purchaser that the Sno-Ballpreparation is completed. The individual components of the system willnow be described in more detail.

Syrup Container Support and Associated Structure The vending machine isprovided with a time clock 99 having two main functions. It first servesto activate the vibrators 29 and 30 on the ice storage hopper 12 atpredetermined intervals. These activations are in addition to thevibrations administered prior to each dispensing sequence. As previouslymentioned, the vibrators will prevent any possibility of ice cubessticking together, or to the sides of the hopper 12, in the event thatthe machine is not used for several hours. Secondly, the time clockserves to activate the syrup mixer motors 28a- 2811 at predeterminedintervals. It is important that the syrups be stirred occasionally sincecertain ingredients in suspension have a tendency to settle over aperiod of time. (Note that the blades of the agitators are near thebottom of their respective tanks.) Means are provided to shut theseagitators off, in the event they are operating during a dispensingcycle.

In addition, an electric switch 81 is provided for manual control of themixer motors 2811-2811. This feature will permit the vending machineoperator to mix his own flavoring in the tanks 5911-5911 when desired.

The individual flavoring fluids are stored in pressurized syrup tanks5911-5911. These tanks, together with their syrup, are quite heavy andare normally ditficult to handle as for example in refilling, cleaningor servicing. To solve the problem of servicing the syrup tanks, themachine of this invention provides a novel support arrangement. Thetanks 5911-5911 are situated on a rigidly constructed platform 60. Theplatform has a pair of tracks 61 receiving side roller bearings 62. Inaddition, it has a pair of depending inner tracks 61' receiving a rollerbearing 62. A center inverted T-shaped guide track is received by achannel groove 63 to directionally steer the platform. When the personservicing the ma chine pulls handle 64, the platform 60 supported onrollers 62 will slide easily along the rail 63. A removable metalpeg-type projection 65 attached to the platform 60 will strike anothermetal projection 66 when the platform 60 is pulled to the desiredposition. The platform 60 can be completely removed, however, byremoving the top stop projection 65. Because of this slidable feature,the connections between the syrup tanks and the dispensing mechanismmust be constructed in a manner permitting such movement. This isaccomplished by providing a tubing platform 67 between the two rows ofcontainers. Secured to this platform 67 are the syrup delivery tubes,the electrical wiring for mixer motors 2811-2811, and tubing between theinterior of the containers and an air compressor unit. Therefore, thereare three conduits necessary for each cylindera syrup tube, anairpressure tube, and a set of electrical wires. The dispensing of thesyrup is accomplished by maintaining the cylinders under constant airpressure via air compressor 69. Referring to FIG. 10, it can be seendiagrammatically that air is drawn into the compressor 69 through agermicidal air filter 68, designed to filter both bacteria and dirtparticles from the air before it enters the compressor. After the airleaves the compressor, it passes through an unloading check valve 70 andthrough an electrical air pressure regulator 71. The regulator maintainsa pre-determined pressure in the syrup tanks 5911-5911 by electricallycontrolling the operation of the air compressor activating switch. Thecompressed air passes through the manifold conduit 73 (supported onplatform 67) and a safety relief valve 72. Valve 72 is designed to openautomatically or manually when desired pressures are exceeded. The airpasses from manifold tube 73 into branch tubes 7511-7511 which leaddirectly into their corresponding tanks 5911-5911. The branch tubes7511-7511 are connected to the manifold tube 73 by means of flarecouplings such as 7411 and 7411 (FIG. 7). Air pressure forces the syrupout of the syrup tanks through tubes 7611-7611 which each extend fromnear the bottom of the tanks through the top thereof. Tubes 7611-7611are connected to individual syrup tubes 7711-7711 by means of flarecouplings such as 9811-9811 connecting tubes 7611-7611 to tubes7711-7711. The syrups pass through the individual tubes 77a-77h whichare mounted on the tube platform 67 and extend along the wall 2a of thecabinet to a plurality of respective solenoid dispensing valves 78a-78h.Flexible tubes 70a-79h are connected to the outlet end of the solenoidvalves through which the syrup flows. These last mentioned tubes areterminated in a cluster 8011-11 on the syrup dispensing head 40. This isbest seen in FIG. 8A.

The flexible tubes 79a-79h are of a heavy gauge plastic capable ofwithstanding the repeated motion of the syrup dispensing arm 39. Ofcourse, all conduits are of a sufficient length to permit platform 60 toextend to its safety stops.

The individual syrup mixer motor leads (FIG. 12) are connected to trunkleads 85 and 86 by means of fuse-holding bayonet connections of aconventional design. In the event one or more tanks are to be removed,it is done easily by opening the bayonet connections and the flarecouplings of the particular tanks to be removed. The parts of the flarecouplings connected to the air pressure manifold line 73 and syrup lines77a-77h can then be capped with threaded caps provided for this purpose.In this way the air pressure system and the syrup system can easily bekept pressure tight with any number of the tanks removed.

Adjustable Storage The machine is constructed so that an ice storagehopper 12 of different sizes and capacities can be easily installedwhile the machine is on location. Referring to FIG. 2, the ice makingunit 8 is supported by four holding pins 95 extending from four angleiron supports 94a- 94d. The pins are supported by the angle irons bymeans of holes 97 placed in each of the flanges of the irons at equalintervals. These intervals correspond to storage hopper sizes availablein the market place. A lifting jack, which can be attached to the angleiron support 94a of the machine, is provided with each machine. The jackis designed so that its lifting arm will rest under the base 100 of theice making unit 8. By operating the jack the ice making unit can belifted off the holding pins 95 and into a new position at a differentheight. The pins are reinserted at the desired height. For servicing,the ice making unit 8 can be raised entirely out of the machine. If thepurpose of lifting the ice making unit is to install a diiferent storagehopper, the following procedure is used. The ice maker 8 is lifted bymeans of the jack, the holding pins are removed, and the new hopper isinstalled in the vending machine. The holding pins are then placed backin the proper holes 97 in the supports. After the holding pins arereplaced, the ice making unit is then lowered, by means of the jack,into its new position sitting on the holding pins and directly above thenew hopper. The base 100 of the ice making unit sits rigidly on theholding pins 95. The ice making unit can be put in a lower position bythe same method. It follows that a larger ice storage hopper will meanthat the vending machine can build up a larger reserve of ice forperiods of time when the demand for ice exceeds the rate it is made. Adoor 80 is provided in the hopper to supply or extract ice as desired byan operator. Since the ice making unit is situated above the storagehopper, the overall height of the machine will depend partially upon theheight of the hopper. Consequently, various sized hoppers are used wherethere is an overhead space problem. An annular bellows 100' connectionbetween the bottom of the ice maker and the top of the hopper preserveslimited communication between the two units.

Operation Referring to FIGS. 12-14, a pair of power lines 158 and 159are connected to a source of electricity. When a purchaser places a coinof suitable denomination into the coin slot 203, the coin momentarilycloses a switch 154 connected by leads 155 and 164 to power line 5 159,lead 164 being also connected to contacts 129, 132, 135, 138 and 141(FIG. 13) energizing a relay 156 connected to switch 154 by lead 155 andalso connected to lead 157 extending to power line 158 and therebyclosing the normally open switch 160 connected to lead 164 and by lead163 to relay 162. Closing of switch 160 energizes the holding relay 162which in turn closes an associated holding switch connected by leads 167to leads 163 and 164 and a selector actuator switch 166 connected bylead 168 to contact a. These steps are performed substantiallyinstantaneously. The machine is now set to operate upon the selection ofa desired syrup. The operator depresses one of the buttons 23a-23h forthis purpose.

Assuming the flavor desired relates to button 23a, this button isdepressed, operating a selector switch 169a whose movable contact 170anormally engages contact 171a. This moves the contact 170a intoengagement with a fixed contact 172a connected by one lead 17711 tocontrol relay 176a which is also connected to lead 164. This energizes acontrol relay 176a and closes switches 178a, 179a, and 180a thereofwhich are connected to lead 157, switch 178a also being connected bylead 182a to lead 143 connected to contacts 117 and 121 and switch 180abeing connected by lead 184 to switches 180b-180d (FIG. 14). Themovement of contact 170a out of engagement with fixed contact element171a of the switch 169a, breaks the circuit to the other selectorswitches 16% through 16911, so that these switches are inoperative.Therefore, only the flavor controlled by button 23a is dispensed. Forpurposes of simplicity, only the circuitry for flavors a-d are shown.The selector switches 16917-16911 have movable contacts 170b-170drespectively, which normally engage contacts such as 1731b and 1710(FIG. 14) and are moved into engagement with fixed contacts 172b-172drespectively by depressing their respective buttons 23b-23d. Lead 175connects contact 171C to the movable contact 170d, and contacts 171]:and 1700 are similarly connected, movable contact 1701; being similarlyconnected to fixed contact 171a. Fixed contacts 172b-172d are similarlyconnected by leads 177b-177d to their respective control relays176b-176d which are likewise connected to lead 164 and have switches178-1801), 1780-1800 and 178d-180d, respectively. Leads 177b-177d alsoconnect relays 176b-176d to lead 164, and leads 182b- 1840! connectswitches 178b-178d to lead 143, lead 184 also being connected by leads18512-18511 to switches ISM-180d. Leads 183a-183d are connected toswitches 179a-179a'.

Referring now to the top of FIGS. 12 and 13, there is diagrammaticallyshown a series of switch operating cams 101-110. These cams are mountedon a common shaft 25' rotated by motor 25.

At the time of making selection, it should be noted that contacts 112and 114 of a cam-operated switch 111, are open to render the selectedvalve 78a inoperative during this period; contact 114 being connected bylead 142 to the solenoids of dispensing valves 78a-78h, the solenoids ofvalves 78a-78d only being shown connected to leads 18361-18351. Also,during this period the holding circuit for relay 162 is closed throughcontact elements 116 and 118 of the cam-operated switch 115, contacts116 and 118 being connected by leads 161 to lead 157 and relay 162.Likewise the holding circuit for the control relay 176a is completedthrough contacts 120 and 121 of the cam-operated switch 119 whosecontact 120 is connected by lead 181 to lead 161. However, the circuitthrough the cup-dispensing mechanism 24 and timer motor 25 is completed,and immediate operation of the cup-dispensing mechanism and motoroccurs. The initial energizing circuit for the cup-dispensing mechanism24 to power leads 158 and 159 will now be described. It may be seen fromFIG. 12 that the lower lead 137 extends to a lead 184, which iscontinued across FIG. 13 to FIG. 14 where it rises vertically andterminates at contacts 18011. It will be re called that these contactsare closed upon the selection of a flavor, as by the depression ofbutton 23:: (FIG. 14), which energized control relay 176a. Thus, thelead 184 is electrically extended through contacts 180a to lead 157, inturn connected to input power lead 158 at the upper right hand side ofFIG. 14. The other connection from cup-dispensing mechanism 24 to theother input power lead 159 is made over the upper lead 186 (FIG. 12)from dispenser 24 to the contact 113 of switch 111, which is closedbecause cam 101 is in its home position (prior to energization of motor25). Thus, a path is completed to power line 159 through contacts 111such that upon selection of a flavor a cup is dispensed from thedispenser 24.

Since cams 101-110 are being coupled to the timer motor 25, they startrotating immediately. Initial rotary movement of the cam 102 causesoperation of switch 115 which moves contact 116 out of engagement withcontact 118 and into engagement with contact 117. This breaks theholding circuit to the holding relay 162 and continues the holdingcircuit to the selected control relay 176a. Cams 102 and 103 aredesigned so that movable contact 116 moves into engagement with contactelement 117 while contact is maintained between elements 120 and 121 ofthe cam-operated switch 119. Initial rotary movement of the cam 110, onthe other hand, causes operation of switch 139 moving the contact 140into engagement with contact 141. This completes the circuit tovibrators 29 and 30. As previously stated, the vibrators are activatedfor a pre-determined length of time in order to lessen the chance of anice jam in the storage hopper. A second function of the vibrators is toinsure ice around the shaving blade 16 so that a uniform amount isshaved.

As previously described, this vibration occurs during the period the cupis dispensed and prior to the shaving motor being energized.

The initial rotary movement of cam 108 causes operation of switch 133,moving the contact element 134 into engagement with contact 135, andenergizing the circuit breaker 151 connected by lead 197 to power line158. Energizing the circuit breaker 151 causes movable contact 152 tomove out of engagement with contact 153, breaking the circuit to thesyrup mixing motors 28a28h.

Of course, this will have no effect on the circuit during the period themotors (controlled by a time clock) are not operating. However, if adispensing cycle begms during the time mixing motors are operating, aserious power drain occurs.

Cam 103, at this time, rotates to a point causing contact element 120 tomove out of engagement with contact 121 and into engagement with contact122. This does not alter the status of the electrical circuit at thisinstant, but readies the circuit for an operation to be described.

Approximately /4 second after the time interval necessary to allow thecup to drop from its dispensing head 27 to cup-receiving station 33, thecam 110 rotates to a point causing operation of switch 139. Contact 140moves out of engagement with contact 141, breaking the circuit to thevibrators 29 and 30 through leads 150 and 200 to power line 158, andcausing them to deenergize.

At the de-energizing instant, carn 105 rotates to a point causingoperation of time delay switch 126 which is connected to lead 164 and byleads 145 and 201, to power line 158, thus energizing the motor 14 ofthe ice shaving mechanism 13. Cam 105 is constructed so that it willmerely touch the activating button on the time delay switch 126. This,however, will be sufiicient to energize the time delay switch. Almostimmediately after it is energized, cam 105 is rotated to a point out ofengagement with the time delay switch until the next succeeding cycle.An air-pressure time delay switch of a conventional adjustable type isset for the period of time necessary to produce one serving of ice. Acam-operated micro switch could be used, but such a switch presents moredifiiculty in adjustment.

fter this pre-determined time, the delay switch 126 will automaticallyopen. This will in turn de-energize the motor 14 to the shavingmechanism 13 and stop the shaving process.

The remaining cams are set so that succeeding operations will not takeplace until the shaving time has elapsed. Approximately one half secondafter the shaving process is completed, cam 107 rotates to a point whereit causes operation of switch 130 moving the contact element 131 intoengagement with contact 132 and thus completing the circuit to the pushrod solenoid 35 through lead 147 connected to contact 130 and leadconnected to power line 158. The structure of the dispensingdistribution mechanism is described at this point because of its closerelationship with the other control mechanisms.

The basic parts of the syrup dispensing mechanism are mounted on movabletracks 38 slidably received on fixed channel rails 55 attached to thecabinet 1. The movement of tracks 38 and the parts connected thereto arecontrolled by push rod 36. Upon completion of the circuit to solenoid35, the solenoid is energized and the push rod is driven forward (to theleft in FIG. 9) longitudinally driving the movable parts of themechanism.

As long as the solenoid is energized the mechanism is urged in thisforward position. When forward, syrup dispensing arm nozzle 40 is abovethe cup of shaved ice at station 33. As nozzle 40 reaches a positionover station 33, earn 101 rotates to a point where the contact element112 moves out of engagement with contact 113 and into engagement withcontact 114 completing the circuit to the valve-operating solenoid 78a.

Solenoid 78a opens its associated valve causing delivery of the selectedsyrup through the conduit 79a. Concurrently, cam 109 rotates to a pointcausing operation of a switch 136 moving contact 137, which is connectedto lead 149 (FIGS. 11 and 13) into engagement with a contact 138. Thiscompletes the circuit to motor 41 of the syrup dispensing mechanism 37which is connected to power line 158. The energizing of this motorcauses it to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

Affixed to shaft 42 of the motor is a wheel 43 ro tatable therewith. Thewheel is held rigidly in place longitudinally as it rotates by means ofball bearings 44. Around the wheel is an outer race 45 connected to themovable tracks 38. Directly in front of the wheel 43, is a second wheel46 identically constructed and similarly mounted on tracks 38.

An arm 39 connects the wheels and is secured thereto by anchor pins 50and 50'. The anchor pins are attached in relatively similar positionswith respect to the dispensing arm 39, causing the wheels to rotate atthe same rate of speed and in the same direction. To further insure thatthe two wheels 43 and 46 move together, a cog wheel 49, attached toshaft 42, and a similar cog wheel 49', located beneath wheel 46, areconnected by a drive chain 84. As these wheels are rotated by the motor41, the dispensing head 40 of the syrup dispensing arm 39 follows acircular path 56 above cup 34. As the dispensing head 40 follows thecircular path 56 relative to the travel of the wheels 43 and 46, itdispenses and disperses syrup uniformly and equally about the top of thecup. This provides an attractive Sno-Ball for the purchaser.

It is important that arm 39 terminate its cycle at the same point duringeach sequence. Attached to the motor shaft 42 and beneath the wheel 43is a cam 51. Movement of the cam is relative to that of the motor shaft42. The purpose of cam 51 is to operate a microswitch 52. Shortly afterthe energization of the motor 41 and the consequent turning of the shaft42, cam 51 rotates to a point where the contact element 53 of switch 52engages contact 54 (see FIG. 11) completing a second circuit to motor41. Refer now to cam 109. Approximately one second after cam 109energizes switch 136, the cam rotates further along causing contact 137to disengage contact 138. This, however, will not de-energize the motor41 since there is still a complete circuit to the motor through switch52. Therefore, motor 41 stays energized until the shaft 42, the cam 51,and the syrup dispensing arm 39 have made one complete revolution. Whenone revolution has been completed (the syrup having been spread) the cam51 will have rotated to a point to cause contact 53 to disengage withcontact 54. This breaks the circuit to motor 41, causing it to positionarm 39 at the same place at the end of each cycle.

Just before the end of the syrup dispensing cycle, cam 104 rotates to apoint causing contact element 124 of switch 123, which is connected bylead 144 to lead 143, to engage contact 125. This causes a circuit to becompleted to a cycle counter 57, which is connected by lead 199 to powerline 159. A fraction of a second after the counter is energized, cam 104will have rotated further to a point where it causes arm 124 todisengage with contact 125 and thus break the circuit to the counter.

At the same time switch 123 is activated, cam 106 rotates to a pointcausing contact 128 of switch 127, which is connected through leads 146and 198 to power line 158, to engage with contact 129 thus completing acircuit to the spoon dispenser 58. Energizing the spoon dispenser causesa spoon to be dispensed. A moment after cam 106 had activated switch127, cam 106 will have rotated further to a point where switch 127 isdeactivated.

After the time interval for dispensing syrup, cam 101 rotates to a pointcausing element 112 to move out of engagement with contact 114 and intoengagement with the contact 113. This breaks the circuit to the syrupvalve 78a, de-energizing the valve and stopping the fiow of syrup.

The dispensing of syrup and the rotation of the syrup dispensing arm 39therefore operate concurrently. A moment after the flow of syrup hasstopped, cam 107 will have rotated to a point causing contact 131 todisengage contact 132, thus breaking the circuit to solenoid 35.Consequently, the solenoid will be de-energized and the movable part ofthe mechanism will be retracted back to its original position preparedfor the start of another cycle. The cam 108 rotates to a point causingcontact 134 to move out of engagement with contact 135 to de-energizethe circuit breaker 151. This, once again, completes the circuit to thesyrup mixer motors 28a-28h through the time clock 99. A moment afterthis, cam 103 causes the movable contact 120 of the switch 119 to moveout of engagement with the contact 122 and into engagement with thecontact element 121. The holding circuit to the holding relay 176a isbroken and the relay is de-energized. Simultaneously the movable contactelement 116 of the camoperated switch 115 is moved into engagement withthe contact element 118 to set up the holding circuit for the relay 162for the next succeeding cycle of operation. De-energization of the relay176a causes the circuit to the motor 25 to be broken. Timer motor 25stops since all of the dispensing operations have been completed.

The operations of the control relays 176b-176h, activated by the otherbuttons 23, are identical with that described in connection with controlrelay 176a and the selector switch 169a.

It should be noted that the rotation of the cams 101- 110, responsive tothe closing of a given selector switch, causes the holding circuit forthe holding relay to be broken immediately. Therefore, in the event oneof 10 the selector switches in the series, after the selector switch169a is closed, as for instance the selector switch 169d, no actuatingcircuit can be completed because of deenergization of the holding relay162, and the consequent opening of the selector actuator switch 166.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A food vending machine comprising in combination an ice maker, an icereceptacle receiving ice made by said maker, an ice shaver at the bottomof said receptacle for shaving and dispensing a portion of ice into acontainer for receiving said portion, a vibrator for striking saidreceptacle, a syrup dispenser having a dispensing nozzle for placingsyrup in said container, and control means activating said vibratorprior to dispensing said portion and prior to dispensing said syrup.

2. A food vending machine comprising in combination an ice maker, an icereceptacle receiving ice made by said maker, an ice shaver at the bottomof said receptacle for shaving and dispensing a portion of ice into acontainer for receiving said portion, a syrup dispenser having adispensing nozzle for placing syrup in said container, and means causingrelative movement between said nozzle and said container following thedispensing of ice to the container and during the dispensing of syrupwhereby syrup is dispensed over said portion of ice.

3. A food vending machine comprising in combination an ice maker, an icereceptacle receiving ice made by said maker, an ice shaver at the bottomof said receptacle for shaving and dispensing a portion of ice into acontainer for receiving said portion, a syrup dispenser having adispensing nozzle for placing syrup in said container, means activatingthe syrup dispenser following the dispensing of a portion of ice intothe container and means causing multi-directional movement of saidnozzle over said container during the dispensing of syrup from saidnozzle.

4. A food vending machine comprising in combination an ice maker, an icereceptacle receiving ice made by said maker, said receptacle having aninward taper near the bottom thereof, an ice shaver at the bottom ofsaid receptacle for shaving and dispensing a portion of ice into acontainer for receiving said portion, a vibrator mounted on said taper,a syrup dispenser having a dispensing nozzle said dispenser for placingsyrup in said container, and control means for sequentially activatingsaid vibrator, dispensing said portion, and dispensing said syrup, andsecond means for causing relative movement between said nozzle and saidcontainer during the dispensing of said syrup.

5. A coin-operated food vending machine comprising in combination acabinet having an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a foodcontainer supply for containers, an ice maker, and a shaving anddispensing assembly housed in said upper compartment, means causing saidassembly to dispense a portion of shaved ice in a container supplied bysaid food container supply, a platform in said lower compartment, aplurality of syrup cylinders on said platform, means slidably supportingsaid platform in said lower compartment, such that it may be readilyremoved from said lower compartment, a syrup dispensing nozzle, aplurality of conduits connecting each of said cylinders to saiddispensing nozzle, and selective means for closing all of said conduits,except one, to said dispensing nozzle, an air pressure motor, secondconduits connecting the output of said motor to each of said cylindersand maintaining them under pressure, mixer means in each of saidcylinders, electrical supply leads connected to said mixer means, and asupport board adjacent said cylinders for supporting said first andsecond conduits and said electrical leads.

6. The invention described in claim 5 including means 1 1 fordisconnecting said electrical supply leads from said mixer means duringthe dispensing of shaved ice caused by said first mentioned means.

7. A food vending machine comprising in combination an ice maker, an icereceptacle receiving ice made by said maker, an ice shaver at the bottomof said receptacle, an ice dispenser depending from said ice shaver fordispensing a portion of ice into a container spaced below said icedispenser, a syrup dispenser, means to position said syrup dispenserbetween said ice dispener and said container, said means includingfurther means to remove said syrup dispenser from between said containerand said ice dispenser, control means for sequentially activating theice dispenser, the means to position the syrup dispenser between the icedispenser and the container and the syrup dispenser to dispense syrupover the portion of ice in the container.

8. A food vendor of the type having an outlet in communication with apassageway to supply a container with food comprising, in combination,means for supplying shaved ice to the container over the passageway;

syrup dispensing means for supplying syrup to the container over saidpassageway; means for moving one of the syrup dispensing means and theice supplying means into and out of communication with said passageway;said moving means being disposed to move said one of the means to aposition between the other of said means and the passageway; and meansfor rendering the ice supplying means effective to supply ice at a timewhen it is directly in communication with the passageway and renderingthe syrup dispensing means effective for supplying syrup at a time whenit is directly in communication with the passageway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,660,351 Thompson Nov. 24, 1953 2,835,410 Arnett et al May 20, 19582,878,968 Burgoyne Mar. 24, 1959 2,953,282 Peterson Sept. 20, 19602,984,059 Hollingsworth May 16, 1961 3,036,604 Donofrio May 29, 1962

7. A FOOD VENDING MACHINE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION AN ICE MAKER, AN ICERECEPTACLE RECEIVING ICE MADE BY SAID MAKER, AN ICE SHAVER AT THE BOTTOMOF SAID RECEPTACLE, AN ICE DISPENSER DEPENDING FROM SAID ICE SHAVER FORDISPENSING A PORTION OF ICE INTO A CONTAINER SPACED BELOW SAID ICEDISPENSER, A SYRUP DISPENSER, MEANS TO POSITION SAID SYRUP DISPENSERBETWEEN SAID ICE DISPENSER AND SAID CONTAINER, SAID MEANS INCLUDINGFURTHER MEANS TO REMOVE SAID SYRUP DISPENSER FROM BETWEEN SAID CONTAINERAND SAID ICE DISPENSER, CONTROL MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY ACTIVATING THEICE DISPENSER, THE MEANS TO POSITION THE SYRUP DISPENSER BETWEEN THE ICEDISPENSER AND THE CONTAINER AND THE SYRUP DISPENSER TO DISPENSE SYRUPOVER THE PORTION OF ICE IN THE CONTAINER.